Comment from an evangelical presbyterian perspective and an orthodox confessionally reformed outlook.

Sunday, 19 April 2015

A Repeat
of History in the Church of Scotland

Writing of the origin of the
Relief Church, one of the early secessions from the national church in
Scotland, William Blair comments:

“From the terms employed by
Thomas Boston (junior) in December 1759 when he demitted his charge we learn
how the evangelical party in the Church of Scotland was waning and the moderate
party gaining strength:

"Those
who adhere to the ancient principles and practice of the Church of Scotland are
now reduced to such a small and inconsiderable handful, that they are quite run
down by their numerous opponents, and have it not in their power to reform
those crying abuses, nor to do justice to the oppressed, while they continue in
the communion of the Church."

(“The United Presbyterian Church;
a Handbook of its History and Principles”, William Blair, 1888)

Boston followed the logic of his
argument; he left the national church in order to exercise a gospel ministry in
an evangelical Presbyterian body, uncompromised by the spiritual indiscipline
of the national church. It might be
argued that Boston was wrong and the evangelical cause (perhaps in response to
the strength of the various secession churches) did indeed grow in the national
church after 1759. However, that growth
was so resisted by the liberal wing that the majority of these evangelicals
themselves left in the Disruption of 1843 and joined the Free Church of
Scotland.

When it becomes impossible to reform crying abuses and exercise biblical discipline, is it right to continue in the communion of that denomination?

"Egotism, or a disposition to
bring forward a person's self, is a characteristic
of a weak mind and a contracted heart. It is not an agreeable feature in any
man's character ; but it is peculiarly disagreeable when it is a leading trait
in the character of a man who, from the office he fills, should be
distinguished by the wide comprehension of his views, and the generous
liberality of his afflictions.

Such a man is a minister of the
gospel; and there is something incongruous and disgusting in one whose mind
ought to be habitually employed about the glory of the Divine character — the
order and stability of the Divine government — the restoration of a ruined
world to purity and happiness— the incarnation and sacrifice of the Son of God
— the transforming and consoling influence of the Holy Ghost — the joys and the
sorrows of eternity — and whose grand business it ought to be to bring these
things, in all their reality and importance, before the minds of his fellow-men
— it is incongruous and disgusting in such a man to appear primarily anxious to
draw men's attention to himself — seizing every opportunity to bring himself
into notice — exhibiting the truths of the gospel chiefly for the purpose of
displaying his own talents— calling men's attention to them more as his opinions
than as God's truth, and less ambitious of honouring the Saviour, and saving
those who hear him, than of obtaining for himself the reputation of piety, or
learning, or acuteuess, or eloquence. This is truly pitiable : and if angels
could weep, it would be at folly like this."

About Me

With degrees in both philosophy and theology, I have lived and worked in the UK, West Africa (working in theological education) and the USA. As a Teaching Elder I served for 19 years in the Church of Scotland and 4 years in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (USA). I am a minister of the Free Church of Scotland, and a member in St Andrews Free Church, Fife.

I am married to my wonderful wife Aileen, who has supported and moulded me over 40 years of marriage - an ongoing project that may yet pay dividends, although it requires great patience on her part.